Minutes

The minutes were noted by the Committee for publication.

Business Committee agreed that Voting Time would take place after the last item of business on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Business Committee noted the 3 Week Timetable of Government Business.

Business Committee determined the organisation of business and agreed to schedule the following items of business:

Wednesday 10 December 2014 –

·         Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee's report on its inquiry into progress made to date on implementing the Welsh Government’s Cancer Delivery Plan (60 mins)

·         Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (120 mins)

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) in relation to the Serious Crime Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the LCM to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the LCM by Thursday 4 December 2014 to allow the Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 9 December 2014.

Business Committee considered a paper from the government regarding a Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (SLCM) in relation to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.

Business Managers agreed to refer the SLCM to the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee for scrutiny. The Business Committee also agreed that the Committee should report on the SLCM by Thursday 8 January 2015 to allow the Legislative Consent Motion to be debated in Plenary on Tuesday 13 January 2015.

Business Managers noted a letter from the Minister for Natural Resources, annexing the Government’s draft amendment to the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Bill.

The Business Committee noted the paper providing an update on the progression of all Bills, both those in draft and those not, announced in the Queen’s Speech, for the fourth Parliamentary session.

Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision of 11 November to refer the Qualifications (Wales) Bill to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 consideration, and agreed the deadline for the Stage 1 Committee to report by as 13 March 2015 and the deadline for the completion of Stage 2 Committee proceedings as 15 May 2015.

Business Managers confirmed their in principle decision of 11 November to refer the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill to the Health and Social Care Committee for Stage 1 consideration, and agreed the deadline for the Stage 1 Committee to report by as 10 April 2015 and the deadline for the completion of Stage 2 Committee proceedings as 5 June 2015.

Business Managers discussed the proposal to establish an Assembly Committee to Consider the Protection of Children from Battery inflicted on Grounds of Reasonable Punishment.

The Minister for Government Business indicated that she would bring forward an amended 3 week timetable of Government Business to include a motion to establish an Assembly Committee.

Business Managers noted that they would need to consider the membership and timetabling of the committee at a future meeting if the committee were established.

Elin Jones indicated that she would like the Committee to consider shortening Christmas recess 2015 from 4 weeks to 3 weeks. However, the majority view was to continue with previous practice and stay with a four-week recess.

Business Committee agreed the Whitsun and summer 2015 recess dates and agreed for autumn half term 2015 and Christmas recess 2015/16 (see below).

* Provisional dates to be confirmed by Business Committee.

The Minister for Government Business alerted the Business Committee to two further Legislative Consent Memoranda which are likely to be laid this week, one on the Deregulation Bill in relation to obsolete fishing provisions, and another on the Medical Innovation Bill.